Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for this ARC.

Joe, 45, is a comedy writer who lives with wife Freya, a paralegal, and daughter Dolly, 16, in Brighton. Their marriage has soured in the past 18 months, partly due to his failure to earn money with his writing. His last sitcom for the BBC was ten years ago, and the communication between him and his wife has broken down, mainly due to Joe never mentioning important things like his panic attacks or his secret visits to a therapist even though he refuses marriage counselling.

Unfortunately, neither of them can afford to leave the marital home and selling it is also not a financial option right now so they try to muddle along in the same house but separate bedrooms, at least until Dolly is going to uni in six months' time. Then Joe's agent Carl suggests making his next writing project about his unusual living situation and all hell breaks loose.

So, Jon Rance is a writer (hopefully without marriage troubles) who writes about a writer with marriage troubles who writes about a writer with marriage troubles. Got it.
To be honest, I didn't see this as a funny book so I have no idea how anybody would be able to turn this into a laughter-filled sitcom. What's funny about a crumbling marriage, about people who still love each other but have allowed life's disappointments to get in the way?

There are some quirky side characters like Stepdad Martin who is called Marmalade for reasons I have forgotten already, or the members of the Cold Water Club that Freya joins, and they round out the story nicely.

Joe and Freya however are complex characters, and I didn't always connect with them or think they were compatible. Joe is a man child who defines himself through his work and is emotionally illiterate. He constantly doesn't tell Freya really important things like that he is putting their family life in a sitcom, and that is not normal to me. His personal growth journey just takes too long. Simultaneously, Freya is competent but sometimes too rigid in her opinions and doesn't see how Joe struggles.

While I'm not entirely certain whether those two people should be together because when the chips were down, they turned to other people for advice instead of talking to each other, the dual POV storytelling works well, and the book is a well-written, very realistic exploration of love, marriage and family dynamics. Read if you like stories about middle-aged marital introspection and self-discovery.

3.5 stars

Are you ready for your next romantic comedy? Pick up Not Moving Out by Jon Rance. You will love it!!!!

What a great book! I always love books by Mr Rance. It was a fun unique concept. I know I had a situation like this where my parents stayed together more for my benefit than for theirs and this one has an even greater twist as they make just happen to discover their for love for one another again.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Are you married? Do you have kids? Have you experienced the ups and downs of life? Have you wondered if it would be better to separate from your spouse and start over but don't have the finances?

If so, then this second chance romance is right up your alley.

Freya and Joe are 100% relatable. They had a marvelous marriage (at one point), a smart daughter about to leave for university, but with only one real income, they don't have the money to do anything about it....right now. So naturally, they separate waiting to dissolve their marriage until Dolly leaves for university the caveat is that they're still living together. This really makes you question, can you remain friends with your (soon-to-be) ex spouse?

This is a book I will happily re-read for years to come. It makes you truly think that a struggling marriage can bounce back from the lies and deceit. I am so thankful that the reason for their "downs" was not infidelity. Not every marriage has someone that cheats, but love is a job. You have to work at it to make it work. That is exactly what this book shows. It makes you realize that eventually you're going to hit those lows in your marriage, in your life, and you truly have to want it for it to last.

If anything, this book shows beautifully that even if it's storming today, there could be a miraculous rainbow tomorrow.

Thank you to the author/publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early. This was my first Jon Rance novel and I will *definitely* be diving into more of his work!

If I were judging this book by its cover, this wouldn’t be my first pick, however, I’m glad I didn’t. Not Moving Out gave a realistic depiction of navigating through life when your marriage has come to an end. The idea that a lot of times happiness in a marriage to some men equates to being able to provide for their family. The reality that for some women, they are so wrapped up in being a wife and mother, they forget who they are and what they want. How do you move on when you have a child? This story touched on these realities and much more. I thoroughly enjoyed the realness in this story and would highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

this was a really great book. it was refreshing to see such realness no matter how brutal that can sometimes feel. the ages were also a good change with the main characters being in their 40s. and whilst we might not be in this couples exact position i felt we could all feel the relatable themes and struggles. and or have seen the point of view from at least one of the characters in volved.
the other cast of characters in this books felt like they were all just as important to the plot which was a real great move. i like it when side characters feel like they have meaning and not just tick box or fluff characters that flit in and out with no real reasoning.
this is a couple who over time has started to untether from each other. nothing huge or harrowing happened, just over the time and certainly recently things just got one thing after another until they just werent " together" in this marriage anymore. mostly as with most thing it was the communication issue.
so separation feels the only option. best for both of them. but they have a daughter who is ready for uni so decide they must stay living together until that happens. what could go wrong? or right?
the whole way through this book i was pushed and pulled with my own opinions on whether these two should actually separate. i love how as we got to know them i got to see different sides to them individually and together as a couple. by the end i new what I wanted to happen, or thought should but i love how even then i was still kind of not certain of where the author would take this.
its an original one because usually with a love story or romance you are rooting for the pair arent you? with this one it felt realistic because not all people should or want to stay together. sadly yes this is the reality of life. but we dont usually follow that set of decisions in this way where it really is on the line.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5 rounded up)

The Setup

This is my first foray into John Rance’s writing, and Not Moving Out offers a refreshing twist on the usual contemporary romance. Freya and Joe, a couple in their late forties, are separating—but still living together to provide stability for their daughter Dolly, who’s off to uni in a few months. It’s an intriguing premise with just enough emotional messiness to reel you in.

Realism Over Romance

Freya and Joe aren’t your typical starry-eyed lovers; they’re realistic, sometimes resigned, and undeniably relatable. The love hasn’t vanished completely—it’s just evolved into something more complicated and less easily labelled. Their emotional distance has grown over 18 months, and while their decision to part ways feels mature, it’s also quietly heartbreaking.

A Strong Cast

The side characters—Freya’s mother, Jo’e’s father, and others—form an ensemble that gives the story depth and a sort of gentle, lived-in warmth. Everyone felt like someone you might bump into at the local pub or family dinner (for better or worse).

More Grounded Than Sweeping

Here’s the thing: while I appreciated the realism and the fact that the protagonists are smack in my age group (finally!), I found myself emotionally detached. Odd, given the fraught situation. Maybe it’s the restraint, or maybe it’s just that their mature handling of things didn’t quite scratch my escapist-romance itch.

It’s definitely well-written, thoughtful, and more reflective than swoony. A solid read, just maybe not what I needed at the time.

Final Thoughts

A slow-burning, emotionally grounded story about love, change, and the quiet complexity of starting over—just don’t come expecting butterflies. Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Freya and Joe’s marriage is over, or so they think. But with their daughter’s final school year ahead and money tight, they agree to live together for six more months.
For Joe, a struggling sitcom writer, their awkward setup becomes the perfect story. The network loves it, there’s just one problem: Freya doesn’t know she’s the star.

First off, huge thanks to NetGalley and Jon Rance for giving me the chance to read this! I was pulled in right from the start. The story moves fast, and I honestly couldn’t stop reading. It had so many beautiful lines that made me stop and think about love, life, and all the messy in-betweens.

I loved the writing style and the plot. Even when I wasn’t reading, I kept thinking about the characters, they felt so real. I laughed out loud more than once and even got a little teary at times.

Okay yes, there were moments where I just wanted to yell please communicate!! but that just made it all the more relatable.
All in all, I’m really grateful I got to read this one. I’ll definitely be recommending it to my friends!

Books have always been my “happy place.” The genre that I can never get enough of is romance. Although my preferred genre is romantic suspense books, I am actually a huge fan of Rom-Coms as well. Because of this, I was extremely excited to read this book.

One of the things that hooked me about this book is that it was refreshing to read about characters that are in their forties. Also, as someone who has been married for almost 17 years, this book made me think about what I would do if my own marriage ended up “imploding.” I could definitely see us in this type of situation!

While I really liked most of the characters, I have to say that Joe is my absolute favorite. He was the character that I was rooting for most of all. Not to be a spoiler, but I am glad that it all works out for him.

All in all, I adored this book. I can’t wait to read other works by Jon Rance.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

As the author said himself “<Not moving out> is a romantic comedy about love when you are older, about marriage, parenting, parents, friends and lovers”
As I usually read romance with “book boyfriend” characters and people in their 20s or 30s, this book was something totally different for me as a reader.
It’s follows a couple in their 40s, after being married for nearly 20 years that decided to separate without any big drama like cheating. They had more of long-time struggles in their marriage, that piled over time, but not one particular cause of their separation.
I think the story can be very relatable and quite realistic. It’s still fiction, but the whole premise and execution of the story allows the reader to find themselves or at least someone they know in the main couple or side characters.
It’s well written, funny, but can also make you reflect on some things. It’s entertaining and can easily be a quick read.
I loved the idea and execution! Also the way all the side-plots and side characters were crafted is worth mentioning.
I liked the pacing. For the majority of the story it wasn’t clear how Freya and Joe will end up - will they find their way back to each other or will it end with divorce? I don’t know which way to root for them up to 80% of the story! Over the last 20% once I had an opinion if they should be together or not, I changed it probably 3 times! Only during the last 20%! I wasn’t expecting the author will wrap the story in a way I will agree with, but I was proven wrong.
I very much enjoyed the story as a woman in her early 30s with almost 10 years of being married, so you definitely don’t have to be older or in marriage crisis to read and enjoy this story ;)

This is a second chance romance, but not the kind you are usually used to, where the two lovers-to-be have been separated by time. In this case, they are separated by a floor of their house. Freya upstairs, and Joe downstairs.
The pair have been married for a long time. Their daughter, Dolly is going off to university, and For Freya, things had been bad for the last year and a half, so she proposes that they get separated, but live in the same house, because they can’t afford to live apart, and it would be better for Dolly, to have a stable home before she goes off.
Joe still loves her. But he doesn’t know how to express it. He, a writer, hasn’t sold anything in years, but goes to meet his agent, whom he tells about living together but apart, and he is told to pitch it as a tv show, and of course it is picked up.


Lack of communication is often the crux of problems in the world, and in this case, Joe not telling Freya that he is writing a show based on their life is something he doesn’t want to do because he thinks she won’t understand.


Although I enjoyed this book, I had a little issue with Freya’s voice. Joe’s chapters made perfect sense, and were heart shredding. But on the other hand, Freya got upset for Joe not fighting for the marriage more, or not calling her more, when she both told him to not call her, and that it was over, so don’t bother fighting. No wonder Joe was having problems.


This book will be available on the 15th of May 2025. Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.